CBU Secures Series Win over Utah Valley

Saturday, May 4

Riverside, Calif.

5:00 PM

California Baptist University

28-18, 13-7

Utah Valley

11-34, 7-13

Utah Valley

California Baptist

Photo by: Reagan Lee

CBU Secures Series Win over Utah Valley

5/4/2019 8:04:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score

By: Andrew Shortall, Director of Athletics Communications

RIVERSIDE, Calif. – After dominating offensively in the series opener, California Baptist University had to grind out a 2-0, pitchers' duel victory over Utah Valley on Saturday.

It handed the Lancers their fifth Western Athletic Conference series win of the year, while they will go for their second sweep versus the Wolverines with a noon game Sunday at Totman Stadium. CBU improves to 28-18, 13-7 in WAC, while UVU drops to 11-34, 7-14.

Both teams were held to just five hits on Saturday, with Chad Castillo, Andrew Bash, Ryan Mota, Rory Smith and Nick Plaia collecting a hit for the Lancers.

Four pitchers combined to shutout the Wolverines for CBU's fifth shutout of the season. Chris Burica earned his fourth win of the year, improving to 4-1, by throwing the first four innings in which he gave up four hits, four walks and struck out five. Matt Mogollon earned his sixth save on the year by throwing 1.2 perfect innings with two strikeouts.

CBU scored both runs in the bottom of the fourth. Bash led off the inning with a 2-1 solo homer to the gap in right center.

After all the outstanding defense, CBU showcases its offense in the bottom of the fourth. An Andrew Bash 💣scores the first run of the game for the Lancers. #LanceUp pic.twitter.com/edQO8PYiNU
— CBU Baseball (@CBUbaseball) May 5, 2019

Mota kept the rally alive with a one-out double on the first pitch he saw. Smith then scored Mota with a 2-2 single up the middle.

CBU takes a 2-0 lead into the fifth, with Rory Smith coming through with an RBI single to score Ryan Mota, who doubled earlier in the inning. #LanceUp pic.twitter.com/ttxZd4g9zE
— CBU Baseball (@CBUbaseball) May 5, 2019

Defense was a huge reason why CBU kept UVU off the scoreboard on Saturday. Harrison Spohn made a great diving catch on the very first play of the game.

📢 WEB GEM 📢

Harrison Spohn is responsible for the highlight of the day so far, with this great diving catch on the first play of the game. Definite @WACsports top play potential.

There's no score through three innings here at Totman Stadium.#LanceUp | #WACtopPlay pic.twitter.com/GvRTgdQ76i
— CBU Baseball (@CBUbaseball) May 5, 2019

The Lancers then caught a Wolverine trying to stretch a double into a triple on a great 9-6-5 putout, thanks to some great hustle and throws from Billy Rockefeller, Spohn and a scoop and tag from Bash.

Utah Valley gets the first extra-base hit of the game, with a one-out double in the top of the fourth. CBU's defense gets the last laugh, though, with this 9-6-5 putout at third base.#LanceUp pic.twitter.com/tASmbXhVpV
— CBU Baseball (@CBUbaseball) May 5, 2019

Angelo Capolupo, the walking web gem, then came up with perhaps his best defensive play of the season, with two on and one out in the top of the eighth. He ranged over to snag a ball in the hole and then made an improbably off balance yet on-target and on-time throw to first where John Glenn was to dig the ball for the out.

😱😱😱

This is bonkers. Angelo Capolupo comes up with perhaps his best defensive play of the season, with the improbably on-target and on-time throw, while John Glenn is there on the other end to dig it.

It helps keep CBU in front 2-0 going into the bottom of the eighth. pic.twitter.com/43ebGSVkCk
— CBU Baseball (@CBUbaseball) May 5, 2019

CBU's 28 wins this year are tied for the eighth most by a team in its first season in NCAA Division I out of 40 teams who have made the move since 1998. For comparison, North Alabama is the only other team making the move to D-I this year and is currently 13-33.

Dallas Baptist holds the record for wins in its first D-I year at 44 back in 2004, while Florida Gulf Coast (38, 2008); North Florida (34, 2006) and Bryant (32, 2009) round out the top four. Most recently, Grand Canyon won 30 games in its first D-I season in 2014, which ranks fifth and tops WAC teams. Northern Colorado (2004) and Gardner Webb (2001) are tied for sixth with 29 wins, while UC Davis had 28 wins, as well, back in 2005.